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Logistics · head to head

Descartes Systems vs Visibility

Descartes Systems logo

Descartes Systems

Logistics

Logistics network connecting carriers, brokers and shippers, with customs and routing on top

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Visibility logo

Visibility

ERP

Supply chain and manufacturing execution software

From
$1000/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Descartes Systems descartes has grown by acquisition over many years, so overlapping products with different data models and interfaces sit under one brand, and you must pin down exactly which product is on the quote.; Visibility no price, licensing model, minimum or contract term is published on the site; buyers are directed to a sales email and phone number
  • They diverge on capability: Descartes Systems covers Global Logistics Network, Visibility covers Supply chain visibility.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Descartes Systems and Visibility actually diverge.

Attributes where Descartes Systems and Visibility differ
AttributeDescartes SystemsVisibility
Starting priceOn request$1000/month
Pricing modelquotesubscription
PlatformsWeb, Cloud, iOS, AndroidCloud, On-premise, Web
CategoryLogisticsERP
FoundedUnknown1989

Identical on both: free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Descartes Systems

  • Global Logistics Network
  • Customs and regulatory filing
  • Route planning and dispatch
  • Broker and forwarder systems
  • Denied party screening
  • Trade data intelligence
  • Ecommerce fulfilment

Only in Visibility

  • Supply chain visibility
  • Manufacturing execution
  • Production planning
  • Analytics
  • Reporting
  • ERP systems
  • REST APIs
  • EDI

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Descartes Systems

  • A customs broker needing to file declarations in multiple countries through one systemnot Visibility
  • A retailer running a private delivery fleet that needs routing, dispatch and proof of delivery in one placenot Visibility
  • A forwarder that wants carrier status messages arriving automatically instead of chasing them by emailnot Visibility
  • An exporter needing denied party screening and classification applied to every order before it shipsnot Visibility

Visibility

  • ERP for engineer to order and make to order manufacturersnot Descartes Systems
  • Job shop production planning and costingnot Descartes Systems
  • Manufacturing operations in aerospace and defence, fabricated metals and medical devicesnot Descartes Systems

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Descartes Systems

  • Descartes has grown by acquisition over many years, so overlapping products with different data models and interfaces sit under one brand, and you must pin down exactly which product is on the quote.
  • Pricing is often transaction or document based, which means costs rise with business volume in a way seat-based software does not, and a peak season can produce a bill nobody modelled.
  • Connecting a trading partner who is not already on the Global Logistics Network is a project with its own cost, so the network advantage is real only for the partners already present.
  • Customs and compliance capability varies sharply by country, so a module that is mature in North America may be thin in the specific jurisdictions you actually file in.
  • Nothing is published on price and contracts typically carry volume commitments and multi-year terms, so an organisation whose volumes fall still pays the committed minimum.

Visibility

  • No price, licensing model, minimum or contract term is published on the site; buyers are directed to a sales email and phone number
  • The vendor states an implementation of 4 to 6 months, so the product is not usable immediately after purchase
  • The product targets make to order, engineer to order and job shop manufacturers rather than general business use

Pricing, plan by plan

Descartes Systems

On request
  • Descartes network and applications$undefined/year
    • Frequently priced by transaction or document volume rather than per seat
    • Module and country scope priced separately
    • Annual subscription with volume commitments

Visibility

$1000/month
  • Standard$1000/month
    • Supply chain visibility
    • MES
    • Basic analytics
  • Premium$2000/month
    • Advanced analytics
    • Custom reports
    • Priority support

Which should you pick?

Choose Descartes Systems if

  • You need global logistics network.
  • You work on Web, Cloud, iOS, Android.
  • You also want customs and regulatory filing.
Descartes Systems review

Choose Visibility if

  • You need supply chain visibility.
  • You work on Cloud, On-premise, Web.
  • You also want manufacturing execution.
Visibility review

Questions people ask

Is Descartes Systems or Visibility better?
Neither clearly leads. Descartes Systems starts at On request and Visibility at $1000/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Descartes Systems or Visibility?
Descartes Systems starts at On request and Visibility at $1000/month.
Does Descartes Systems or Visibility run on more platforms?
Descartes Systems runs on Web, Cloud, iOS, Android. Visibility runs on Cloud, On-premise, Web.
What is Descartes Systems best used for?
Descartes Systems is most often used for a customs broker needing to file declarations in multiple countries through one system, a retailer running a private delivery fleet that needs routing, dispatch and proof of delivery in one place, a forwarder that wants carrier status messages arriving automatically instead of chasing them by email, an exporter needing denied party screening and classification applied to every order before it ships. Of those, a customs broker needing to file declarations in multiple countries through one system and a retailer running a private delivery fleet that needs routing, dispatch and proof of delivery in one place are not what Visibility is typically brought in for.
What can Descartes Systems do that Visibility cannot?
Descartes Systems covers Global Logistics Network, Customs and regulatory filing, Route planning and dispatch, Broker and forwarder systems. Visibility covers Supply chain visibility, Manufacturing execution, Production planning, Analytics.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Descartes Systems: Is Descartes one system or many?

Many. It is a portfolio built through acquisitions, connected by the Global Logistics Network. Establish which named product you are buying and how it integrates with the others.

Visibility: Does Visibility publish pricing on their website?

No, Visibility does not disclose subscription costs or pricing tiers on their website. Interested parties must contact sales directly.

Source
Descartes Systems: How is it priced?

Usually by transaction or document volume rather than per user, with module and country scope quoted separately. Nothing is published.

Visibility: How do I get a Visibility quote?

Visibility directs interested parties to contact sales at [email protected] or (978) 269-6500, or to request a demo through their website.

Source
Descartes Systems: What is the Global Logistics Network?

A shared connectivity network carrying EDI, carrier status messages, customs filings and shipment documents between trading partners, so each new partner does not require a bespoke integration.

Descartes Systems: Does it replace an ERP or a WMS?

No. It sits alongside them, handling connectivity, customs, routing and trade compliance rather than finance or warehouse execution.

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